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ACC Notes: Miami knows importance of Florida game

By Brad Milner | News Herald Writer

Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 10:06 PM.

CORAL GABLES — It’s only one game on the schedule for Miami but it’s the game all the same.

The Hurricanes host No. 12 Florida at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday in a battle of in-state rivals playing for the first time since 2008. The contest serves as an early measuring stick for Miami, which hopes to take the next step in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Florida provides the perfect opponent to gain early momentum with the Gators cornering the state’s success in the past decade.

“It’s obviously a big game, they know what it’s all about,” Miami coach Al Golden said. “(It’s) obviously a great opportunity for our program. It’s really about us building our program. I think winning would go a long way for sure.”

Miami was 7-5 last season and self-imposed a postseason ban for the second straight year amid NCAA violations. Golden came to Miami at the heart of the NCAA’s investigation and enters his third season that began with a 34-6 win over FAU Friday. He’s grown into the position, as has his team, he said.

The Hurricanes, led by quarterback Stephen Morris and running back Duke Johnson, have decided to let their play do the talking. Miami teams of the past have been known for not only having brash figures on the team but a propensity to trash talk opponents. This year’s model is jettisoning the talk.

“To me, we’re a more mature team to be honest with you,” Golden said. “I think it’s more about our guys focusing on what they need to take control of, the things they can control and stay in the bunker and just get ready to play.”

Golden called Florida (1-0) a “great team,” of course, as most coaches will do of their opponents regardless of the caliber. The sentiment rings true, however, with the Gators possessing one of the nation’s top defenses in 2012. Florida opened the season with a 24-6 win over Toledo in limiting the Rockets to 205 yards of total offense.

CORAL GABLES — It’s only one game on the schedule for Miami but it’s the game all the same.

The Hurricanes host No. 12 Florida at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday in a battle of in-state rivals playing for the first time since 2008. The contest serves as an early measuring stick for Miami, which hopes to take the next step in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Florida provides the perfect opponent to gain early momentum with the Gators cornering the state’s success in the past decade.

“It’s obviously a big game, they know what it’s all about,” Miami coach Al Golden said. “(It’s) obviously a great opportunity for our program. It’s really about us building our program. I think winning would go a long way for sure.”

Miami was 7-5 last season and self-imposed a postseason ban for the second straight year amid NCAA violations. Golden came to Miami at the heart of the NCAA’s investigation and enters his third season that began with a 34-6 win over FAU Friday. He’s grown into the position, as has his team, he said.

The Hurricanes, led by quarterback Stephen Morris and running back Duke Johnson, have decided to let their play do the talking. Miami teams of the past have been known for not only having brash figures on the team but a propensity to trash talk opponents. This year’s model is jettisoning the talk.

“To me, we’re a more mature team to be honest with you,” Golden said. “I think it’s more about our guys focusing on what they need to take control of, the things they can control and stay in the bunker and just get ready to play.”

Golden called Florida (1-0) a “great team,” of course, as most coaches will do of their opponents regardless of the caliber. The sentiment rings true, however, with the Gators possessing one of the nation’s top defenses in 2012. Florida opened the season with a 24-6 win over Toledo in limiting the Rockets to 205 yards of total offense.

Johnson rumbled for career-highs of 19 carries and 186 yards against FAU. Johnson’s efforts didn’t erase the fact Miami had trouble on third down with only four conversions on 14 attempts.

“We were in very manageable distances on Friday night and didn’t convert,” Golden said. “We weren’t as sharp as we need to be and that’s it. No excuses.”

Weekend slate: Wake Forest and Boston College, two of the ACC’s 10 teams to win openers, are matched up for a Friday game to open this weekend’s schedule. The game also carries Atlantic Division implications and is the only ACC contest on the slate.

Winless Syracuse draws the toughest opponent with a game at No. 19 Northwestern. The Orange (0-1) opened the season with another Big Ten team, Penn State, and lost 23-17.

Duke (1-0) is the only other ACC team on the road with a date against Memphis. In other games, North Carolina (0-1) hosts Middle Tennessee, No. 4 Clemson (1-0) entertains South Carolina State, Maryland (1-0) welcomes Old Dominion and Richmond is at North Carolina State (1-0).

Weekly honors: Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was named the ACC’s rookie of the week after passing for 356 yards and four touchdowns and finishing with a school-record completion percentage of 92.6 (25 for 27). He also rushed for a touchdown. It matched Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, as the senior quarterback totaled 312 total yards with three TD passes and two scores in being named offensive back of the week after leading Clemson past No. 6 South Carolina.

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